Dwight Howard turns Rockets from promising to contenders

Dwight Howard turns Rockets from promising to contenders

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2013 file photo, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Los Angeles. Chris Paul is staying in Los Angeles; Dwight Howard could be leaving. NBA free agency opens, with Paul sticking with the Clippers and Howard exploring his options before deciding on his future with the Lakers. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

They reached the playoffs for the first time since 2009 this season and battled back from a 3-0 deficit before being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6.

Their return to the postseason showed they have plenty of speed and long-range scoring power with Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons. Omer Asik was a solid rebounder in the playoff run and averaged 12.3 points in the series, but it was clear the team needed a more potent scoring threat inside.

The addition of Howard gives them just that, as the 6-foot-11 star has averaged more than 18 points and almost 13 rebounds in his nine-year career.

His one season in Los Angeles was filled with unrest, including what many believed to be a less than positive relationship with Kobe Bryant. Bryant unfollowed Howard on Twitter on Friday night after he announced his decision to join the Rockets with a tweet.

It was the end of a short tenure with the Lakers in which Howard averaged 17 points and almost 11 rebounds in the playoffs, where the injury-riddled team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round.

Morey said he believes his team offers many benefits to the 27-year-old center, but one thing sealed the deal.

“I think Dwight’s in a great place in his career,” Morey said. “He’s focused on winning and we gave him the best chance to win. It’s that simple.”

Howard can’t officially sign until July 10 when next season’s salary cap has been set.

The Rockets can pay him $88 million over a four-year contract — $30 million less than what Los Angeles could have given him.

But in Houston, Howard saw the chance to join Harden and boost this up-and-coming team. Harden blossomed in his first year with the Rockets, going from stellar sixth man with the Thunder to Houston’s top player. He averaged 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals, setting career highs in each category.

After Howard made his decision Friday night, Harden tweeted: “Houston we have lift off!!,” and posted a photo to Instagram of him and his newest teammate together.

“No matter how you look at it we thought it was a pretty straightforward choice,” Morey said. “To Dwight’s credit he did turn down a pretty significant amount of money to come to the Rockets. It shows his mindset that he’s really ready to take that next step. If you look at best players, James Harden is the best player out there that he could join.”

But Harden certainly isn’t Houston’s only weapon. The Rockets signed Lin last season to run their offense and they were also buoyed by the development of Parsons, a second-round pick in 2011.

Parsons averaged 15.5 points last season and was even better in the playoffs when Lin was ailing, averaging 18.2 points against the Thunder.

Morey said believes the move puts the Rockets among the top teams in the Western Conference and definitely positions them to contend for a title. He pointed to the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder as the teams he sees as Houston’s biggest competition next season.

“We obviously have our work cut out for us,” he said. “We’re going to set ourselves up to be able to compete with them. This move is obviously the most important one. We’ll let the chips fall where they may.”